netSHIELD is an evaluation expansion board with Arduino compatible connectors for development purposes.
It enables the user to connect a Microcontroller based application to all market relevant Real-Time-Ethernet industrial networks with best-in-class real time capabilities, like PROFINET, Ethernet/IP, EtherCAT and others.
The extension board features a netX 52 system on chip. The netX SoC architecture is designed from the ground up for the highest demands on flexibility, determinism and performance in terms of multi-protocol capability and low latency for short cycle times. The heterogeneous multi-core architecture features an ARM processor core, coupled with a flexible communication subsystem (xC) for varieties of industrial applications support.
The communication subsystem, i.e. the Protocol Stack, runs completely independent on the netX SoC and requires only small memory and very limited CPU resources from the host microcontroller. A protocol specific firmware image for the netX network controller is stored in a serial flash memory.
GETTING STARTED
Software and documentation for netSHIELD can be found under this link.| Parameters | Value |
|---|---|
| Processor | netX 52 |
| Onboard Memory | 8 MByte SDRAM 4 MByte Quad SPI Flash |
| Power supply | 5 V DC via USB, 300 mA current via Mini-B USB |
| Host interface | Serial dual-port memory interface via SPI 1x 6-pin, 2x 8-pin and 1x 10-pin male header strips (Arduino™ Uno compatible) |
| Communication interface | 2x RJ45 Ethernet 100 BASE-TX |
| Operating elements | Power-on reset push-button Boot mode configuration jumper |
| Mounting | Plug-on module, no soldering or screws necessary |
| LED | SYS: system status COM0: communication status (RTE) COM1: communications status (RTE) LINK TX/RX for Ethernet channel 0 (at RJ45) LINK TX/RX for Ethernet channel 1 (at RJ45) |
| Diagnostic Interface | Mini-B USB for voltage supply, configuration and diagnosis |
| Dimensions (H x W x L) | 53 x 49 x 23.2 mm |
| Operating temperature | 0 … +30 °C |
| Protocols | PROFINET, EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP, others on request |
This product serves for test- and education- / teaching purposes for industrial applications and controls. Every liability is excluded with industrial use.
The I-CUBE-NETX Software Expansion contains a middleware API
component, called cifX API (links to
Hilscher Knowledge Base). It eases access to a netX companion chip for Real Time Ethernet protocols.
The cifX middleware component API is internally based on a generic cifX Toolkit (links to Hilscher Knowledge Base).
The netX system on chip operates as an independent and flexible communication controller, beside the STM32 host Microcontroller. Industrial protocols like PROFINET, EtherCAT, Ethernet/IP, POWERLINK, Sercos III, and many others are supported by different netX firmware binaries, stored in a serial flash.
Data exchange between the STM32 application MCU and the netX protocol execution controller is performed via a dual port memory. Both chips are physically connected by a serial (SPI) or flexible parallel interface.
This STM32Cube Expansion features API functions to exchange cyclic process data between the network and the application, as well as acyclic mailbox packets.
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Overview STM32 Microcontrollers
GETTING STARTED
The STM32Cube Expansion Software and documentation can be found under this link.